How to REVERSE wrap your bartape
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- Reverse wrapping your bars allows you to wrap your bars without the need of unsightly electrical tape on your top bar. Follow the steps to create a nice and clean cockpit!
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/ nickarend
#Howto #Bartape #Cycling
Starting to wrap your bar tape from the top has the effect that when your hand rubs towards the hoods it will hang on the edge of the tape, starting to peel it. If you start from the bottom, your hand movement will be in the same direction with the tape edge and not do anything to it. There is a reason why practically everybody else on youtube advises to start from the bottom.
Wrap the bar with double sided sticky tape first, that will stop it from sliding down. I much prefer the cleaner look of top-down tape tbh and it doesn't peel away for me.
@@akorenkov same. I have reverse-wrapped my bars for years and never experienced peeling.
Yes, i see what you mean:) And thats why i only reverse the bar tape above the hoods, and keep the classic wrapping below the hoods.
When you sit in the lower position, the pressure on the hands will be bigger, and its more likely that the tape edges will start rolling…
Reversing the bar tape above the hood, works really well, as long as you wrap it tightly.
Dude you have no idea!
Had my “reversed” bar tape on my bike for roughly 6 years and never had any issues.. i guess you can do it the “proper” way and start out from the bar end and have electrical tape showing at the end, to each his own i guess.
Yes! Just looking for this vid. Thanks Nik!
That was super good wrapping with super good instructions. You even touched on the "orientation" subject. 👍👍
Glad you liked it! thanks for commenting and watching
Fantastic. Super simple display and description 👍
Nice wrap, and good clear instructions.
Nicely done. Thank you!
You gave one of the best presentations I’ve seen !!!!
I am so happy to see this! I always wrapped my bars like this in the '90s until I was told it was "wrong". I hate the e-tape, I'm going back to the good 'ol days!
In my thinking nothing that is working for its expected life time can be told to be "wrong".
However, only tapes that have stable enough edges should be used in reverse (top to bottom) wrapping, because this reverse wrap direction exposes the tape sides in such way, that they can be rolled-up while the standard bottom to top wrapping exposes the edges in opposite way that they can be "rolled-down"/become flat.
This means, the general/correct rule should be to wrap from bottom to top, because this direction of wrapping strongly reduces the possibility of the edges to roll up in daily use. However, once you have proven on a specific tape that its edges do not roll up in daily use when it is wrapped in reverse direction, then this specific tape is qualified for reverse wrapping and reverse wrapping does give you the optical advantage of an optically optimal smooth end on the top, this means no optical disturbance by the usually black electrical tape required to end-hold the bar-tape in place when you start at the bottom and finish at the top.
I think this video and the obvious practical result, it can work, allows you to reverse the 1st general rule, wrap from bottom to top, BUT ONLY when the tape has sufficiently good characteristics for such reversal as mainly stable edges that do not easily roll-up.
In my view there is also the 2nd general rule, that at the bottom on the right side the tape should be wrapped clock-wise, while on the left side it should be wrapped anti clock-wise. This rule is based on the fact, that while your hands are on the bottom part of the handlebar you are usually applying higher than normal pressure and while doing this your hands, that act as counter pressure holding points to your legs/feets, tends to turn from inside to outside. If the tape is wrapped on both sides, right and left from inside to outside than the turning force while applying maximum push on your bike tries to tighten the tape. If the tape is wrapped contrary from outside to inside your hands' turning forces try to losen it. As in above's 1st rule, there may exist tapes that are resistive to turn and such tapes would not result for a certain time in any problem when you reverse the wrap direction from outside to inside as is the case in this video on the right side.
The 3rd general rule relates to the top of the handlebar, where the best way of wrapping is from front to back. Again the reason is that while riding in this position your hands/fingers do have the tendency to turn/rotate from front to back and if this force is in direction of the wrapping it tends to tighten the wrap in the area of your hand, while it tends to losen the wrapping in the area of your hand when the wrapping is reversely oriented from back to front.
In an ideal world you want to have all above general rules each set up to its optimum, however in practice the real world will let you run into conflicts when you want to optimize for example 2 different requirements as i) OPTICAL LOOKING that requests you to do identical/symmetrical looking wrapping on both side and ii) OPPOSITE DIRECTION of WRAPPING at the bottom, but SAME DIRECTION of WRAPPING on top or if you want to stick to one of the 3 possible ways to wrap around the break lever. These 3 ways are 1) simple wrap in one direction from start to end (which requires a short piece of tape on the clamp of the break lever), 2) the famous Italian 8-style wrap which requires no short piece of tape, but rotates in same direction on bottom and top, this means either bottom or top is contrary to its general rule and 3) a modification of 1, that requires a short piece of tape but reverses the wrap direction around the break lever, this means you either have both bottom and top side in its ideal wrap direction or both wrong.
For the conflict point bottom rotation is ideal but top rotation is contrary to ideal or vice versa that will be the result in wrap styles 1) and 2 around the break lever you need to take some priority decision (can you rather accept wrong rotation on top or on bottom?). The general 4th rule here is you will emphasize the 2nd general rule (have correct wrap direction at the bottom) which results in conflict with the 3rd general rule (you have wrong wrap direction on top), as this looks to be in practice the better/longer lasting way. In my understanding the force you are applying for the short time on the bottom of the handlebar is much higher than the force you apply for the rather long time riding with your hands on the top.
This video's reverse direction to wrap (from top to bottom) is based on wrap method 1) (always wrap in same direction with a short piece over the break lever clamp), BUT in contrast to my discussion above it emphasizes correct wrap direction on top, while the wrap direction on bottom is wrong (not ideal). Seeing the problem free old/end of life tape this specific tape seems to have a high resistance against getting turned which shows the rules are some general guidelines that help to get good results using all the different styles/materials of tapes, but it is possible to act in contrast to the rules when the tape has inherently strong enough characteristics to avoid rotation, while the general rule is targeting you the best way to get good results with any tape.
If I would have to wrap this handlebar in reverse direction, I would have started the wrap direction back to front (not front to back as done in this video), this means my wrap direction would be contrary to above general 3rd rule, but I would arrive then in ideal correct rotation direction at the bottom (the in my view more important 2nd rule). To emphasize the 2nd rule on this specific handlebar is also supported by the extremely short length on the top on which tape is required, which should allow only very few rotation force from front to back to occur by the most outer part of the hand (may be only the powerless small finger).
Without having the concrete data to me this tapes look to be a good choice for reverse wrapping as from 0:13 it seems this tape is rather thin (the box looks to me rather small) and around 1:15 the old tape does not show strong deformation, both in my opinion good indications that this tape will have few problems on edge roll-up and losening/widening by rotation force.
Best handlebar tape video.
excellent and detailed video didn't want to start wrappin my bars till I was comefortable, I have been practicing using an old inner tube (needs must and it's great for getting to grips with the process) cheers for post and subbed !
Awesome, I'm glad to hear that it helped!
Very well explained! Time for me to try my first wrap...
Let me know how it goes!
Great write up as always!
Thanks my dude
I didn't even know there a something called a "hood mount tape" I always thought that peice was just like an sample or something! omg learned something new!
Nice video 👍. I’ve always wrapped mine this way since the 80’s including when I was club racing. I found that it is less likely for the tape to move and separate through heavy use. People saying you catch the edge when sliding on and off the hoods - I’ve never found this to be an issue, but then again I only ride on the hoods for hills. I have had arguments with people though trying to tell me this way is ‘wrong’ 😂. I also tried wrapping the top half this way down to the brake levers, and the bottom half the conventional way also terminating at the levers, securing the ends around the levers with electrical tape which gets hidden by the hoods.
Yes! Perfect for Aerofly II
I agree!!!!
great video!
IT HELPED ME A LOT!!!!
Thats awesome, I'm glad to hear it helped! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 👍
Thanks for this helpful video. It looks so much better 👍. As I can see you are using an extralite Hyperstem. Which computer mount are you using? It looks pretty cool!
Love it!!!!
Thanks my dude!
what kind bartape you are using looks so nice and cool?
The computer mount can attach with bike lights?
what stem you are using?
great video
Well done mate! I usually use my old bar plug that I can use with a Allen key to fix it.
I dont like using bar end plugs with the screw as they weigh much more than a basic plastic/carbon plug. Obviously, not everyone is concerned about saving overall weight of their bike though.
Son Of A Cyclist interesting ;)
@@sonofacyclist2744
A very good argument. Usually to save weight costs quite some money. In case of a handlebar plug the low weight comes with the cheap simple plastic plug not having a screw for adjustment of its diameter.
You have however to accept the hassle that a not adjustable plastic plug may either be too lose or too large to fit in depending on the thickness of the tape, inner diameter of the handlebar, etc.
@@friedhelmschroter8124 @7:35, you can see that he's got tape on the plug to make it a snug fit. Though I also prefer the adjustable plugs.😁
I've started wrapping from the top down, but I start with the tape edge pointing forward on the underside of the bar. This way, it keeps my hands from catching the edges of each layer and I won't pull the tape up over time.
Mine wears out regularly at the elbow of the bar before the levers. Is there a particular brand that is comfortable yet rugged? Is Silica preferred? Thanks for your suggestions..
What is the advantage of ' reverse' when compare with ' non-reverse' ？
Nice tutorial mate - Keep sharing some good stuff from your man cave!
Thanks Nick! Appreciate it
@@sonofacyclist2744 btw it's not possible to press the bell notification because your settings it set for "Made for Children" 🤷♂️
@@Nicklasbenstrup hmm ill make that change
Very nice video, and very clean.
That there is only one way to wrap bar tape, is a myth, and its time for that myth to go. People even get mad when you wrap your bartape differently.
btw, which bartape is this?
@@cyclingmilan If you look close, you can see the Lizard skins logo. I haven't used that brand in a few years, but I seem to recall that they change the pattern based on the thickness, so a look at the LS website should give you the answer.
@ CyclingMilan
I think your statement is exaggerated, if not even wrong.
The general rule to start wrapping at the bottom and end at the top is not a myth, but guaranteeing you success.
In the unusual demand you want to avoid the electrical tape to fix the end of the bar tape this video shows you can succeed. Not really said by this video, I think the mandatory requirement to succeed on reverse wrapping is to select out of all the huge amount of bar tapes on offer, the few bar tapes that have practically no tendency for edge roll-up.
The huge problem of edge roll-up is the reason for the general rule to start wrapping at the bottom. Only when you can overcome this huge problem by other methods (like sufficiently roll-up resistant bar tapes or strong gluing of the edges) you will succeed in reverse wrapping.
In my thinking the key characteristics to look for in bar tapes to succeed reverse wrapping are:
1) A rather thin tape, especially at the edge (the thinner the edge gap the less roll-up force can be applied)
2) A rather stiff material, that is not so easy to bend
3) A material that neither expands/degrades too strongly under pulling force nor over time (for example degradation by light or other chemical reactions of the bar tape material with polluted air)
Such unusual requirements should make purchase by internet impossible, but you should rather open in a shop different tapes put 2 stripes onto each other and check how roll-up resistant they are. All not really easy/practical ways and the best may therefore be rumor information in internet or experience reports on some people who decided to try including which tape they used and how well this performed over time, like this video (but in this video neither the used bar tape was specified nor how long time the old bar tape was in use, both in storage time and actual use time).
@@friedhelmschroter8124 The "huge" problem of edge roll up only exists in your head. You are a prime example of how people get emotional about this topic. Wrapyour bartape however you want.
JFYI I wrap from the bottom. But I've bought two bikes over the years that were wrapped from the top, with cheap generic bar tape, I rode with those bartapes for years and I never had any edge roll up or any other problems (on my commuter its still on, and on my other bike I eventually changed the handlebar)
@@cyclingmilan
I am not really emotional, but try to understand what is ongoing, what is reason for certain rules.
I intentionally wrote "huge" in quotation marks, because it is not clear to me, how many percentage of today's offered tapes do suffer edge roll-up.
I think you will agree, that edge roll-up is a potential problem/does exist.
The cause of edge roll-up are 2:
i) A tape that is not stiff at the edges/does tend to roll-up easily and
ii) Forces by your hand movement that enforce roll-up
The general rule is start bartape wrapping at the bottom and finish at the top and the reason for this rule is that it worked in hundred of millions cases while when you do reverse the direction of wrapping you do experience a certain percentage of failures where edge roll-up shows over time.
I am very sure when you buy 100 different actual tapes and apply them for both directions you will find the clearly higher failure rate on edge roll-up in reverse direction wrapping, but if the failure rate on today's modern material tapes is a mere 1%, 5%, 20% or even 50% is very difficult to judge without testing it in sufficient number.
Your sample number of only 2 is in my view no sufficient prove to call the general rule start from the bottom stop at the top being a myth. Also cost does not play any role in edge roll-up.
But I agree your comment in the sense that me using the word "huge" may also be some kind of exaggeration, I should better have described the roll-up problem by "a certain number of roll-up failures" which leaves it open, if the failure rate is small or large.
I also fully agree to the fact, that start at the bottom finish at the top is not a rule that you MUST obey, but I object your opinion this rule is obsolete.
I agree only to wording that this rule can be overruled by assuring that the tape you selected does not show any roll-up in reverse direction wrapping for all the time it shall be used (this means you are putting the essence of this rule into the required characteristic of the tape).
What happens if/when the bar end cap gets knocked off with top-down wrapping? Unravelling tape would be my guess...
the "reverse wrap" works better with tape that has a thin edge so as to not peel with hands sliding down around the hoods in use.
I would state much more strong: The reverse wrap works ONLY with tapes that have stable edges, this means a sufficiently high resistance against edge roll-up.
In other words, when you want to do reverse wrapping selection of a bar tape having no tendency to roll-up is mandatory, without a bar tape showing no tendency to roll-up even ideal handcraft will not avoid the great problem of reverse wrapping: Edge roll-up
which brand of bar tape did you have there?
i find it reverse much easier! Thank you
How to reverse ? i was wondering what was the meaning of "to reverse" for a bar tape ...okay thank you that means starting from the top...that makes a good finish without the need of the extra tape but the pressure of the grip from up to down will worn the tape quicker making it peel away. One can too try to avoid the top tape piece by cutting the bar tape so it ends cleanly on the underside of the bar and glueing it.
Now do this with Di2 plug in the bar end .
You literally can without any problems at all. Just use the plug without the excess plastic stuff. Wrap your bar-tape, and do exactly as he does with his bar ends, just with the Di2 plug. Done it plenty of times, looks neat, and you avoid the electrical tape. Nothing worse than the electrical tape near the bar end plug! Looks horrendous!
I'm going to have to try this myself next time. I always thought you should go the other way so if or when your hand slides away from you, then it wont go against the tape so to speak. But it sure does look good, so I'm going to try it.
I fully agree. The general target is to get on the right bottom side a clock-wise rotation, while on the left bottom side a counter-clock-wise rotation is ideal.
The tape used in this video seems to have extremely good characteristics for reverse wrapping, but with tapes showing less rotation resistance it may be better to start the wrap from back to front. I have no practical experience, but in theory I would see no problem to reverse the wrap order from front to back as done in this video to from back to front which will result in correct/ideal rotation at the bottom (but not correct/ideal rotation on top).
Thx you
Nice Job! What out front computer mount is that?
Thank you. The computer mount is made by Fetha components out of Australia. In my opinion, it is the best looking AND performing mount on the market. Used it for nearly 4 years now and I couldn't imagine using anything else.
@@sonofacyclist2744 thanks! I will look into that. Is it possible to reverse wrap with a Di2 EW-RS910 junction box in the bar end?
@@shanespratt yes you can, however, you'll need to use electric tape at the bar end from what I've experienced. I revered wrapped my friends bike with Di2 and didn't find another way around it with the junction box in the bar end. But id rather have the electric tape at the bar end where it isn't AS noticeable, compared to right on the top of the bars.
@ Son Of A Cyclist
You do start the wrap direction front to back. With your wrap method, that is rotating all along the handlebar always in the same direction -no reversal of rotation direction around the brake levers, this leads to ideal direction on the rather small/short top side, but opposite to ideal rotation at the bottom (on the right bottom side wrap rotation should ideally be clock-wise, on the left bottom side wrap rotation should rather be counter-clock-wise). Seeing this situation I have following 3 questions:
1) Would you see any problem to start your wrap in opposite direction (form back to front)?
Background: I think it is more important to keep the ideal wrap rotation direction at the bottom than to keep it on the top.
2) How long time did you drive the old bar tape (storage time/roughly estimated actual riding time)?
3) The rotation force on the bottom is in my image much higher than the rotation force on top, but timewise you may ride much more with your hands on top: Did you see any signs on your tape showing some degradation in optical look on top or the usually much more stressed bottom?
An additional question may be:
Have you used any other type of bar tape and if so, were there noticeable differences tape to tape?
Looks better, but it now means that the bar tape cannot be partially unwrapped to change cable housings. If you wrap and finish bars properly, no need for "electrical tape" to finish the wrap.
I cannot really understand what you want to express.
1) Generally cable housings must be changed BEFORE you start to wrap
2) In case you start the wrap at the bottom and finish on top you will need "electrical tape" to fix the end of the bar tape.
Only in case of the unusual reverse wrapping shown in this video you can delete the "electrical tape", because at the start the bar tape does fix itself and at the end you have the plug that prevents the bar tape to unwrap (while in case of starting to wrap at the bottom you have a double fix at the start, by i) the bar tape itsel additionally support, but not really necessary the plug but no inherent fix at the end, this means you need the "electrical tape").
Good for Aerofly bars, but have you done this on traditional bars? If so how did it hold up?
Yes I've done with traditional style bars. Install is the same. No issues at all.
great
Clean look, but not for all type of tape, only works with thin and rather firm edged tapes
What happens if you have a di2 bar end junction box. Good video
unfortunately if you use a Di2 junction box in the bar end, your only option is to use electrical tape at the bar end, stopping the tape right at the edge. I've done this with a friends bike and I personally think it still looks better than electrical tape on the top bar.
@@sonofacyclist2744 You can cut off a piece to go over the top of the electrical tape at the bottom to hide the tape.
@@sonofacyclist2744 you can easily avoid the tape by simply using the Di2 junction box as the bar end. As long as you have enough Di2 wire to pull it a few cm away from the bar, you can do exactly as in your video, but using the Di2 junction box as a bar end plug to keep the tape in place. Looks so much better than the tape at the bar end!
Nice presence on camera. But i'm not sure regarding how close to the stem the bartape should be wrapped,
That's completely up to you. Some people like to have it wrap up close to the step as they use that part of the bar for climbing and find it comfortable.
How many tape do I need ?
Nice for the tape manufacturers, as you will get through your bar tape faster due to hands rubbing against the grain, so to speak.
It would be better if make a whole video on how to wrap a bar tape both left and right instead of doing short cut on the left side of the handlebar.
How do you deal with di2 bar end junction box??
You do exactly as he does, just with the Di2 end plug instead. Don't use the excess plastic pieces, only the bare plug. Make sure you got a little bit of 'extra' Di2 wire so you can pull it ~2 cm away from the bar while still having it plugged in (makes your life easier) and plug it in to keep the bar tape in place. Looks amazing!
it would be really hard to get the tape in clean around the plug. so you might not have electrical tape up top but your trading that for bar tape that is wrapped the wrong way on the drops and ugly plug area. you can try to glue the end of the tape together to be able to work with it easier and get a cleaner look around the plug. tip for conventional wrap on getting a clean look around the plug, is start it normally but only wrap a couple times from the plug end, secure the plug in and you will usually notice that ugly seam on the tape thats at the plug, you can unwrap to that part and pull it out, then continue to wrap. most ppl do the entire wrap and plug it last, but oh shit your tape at the plug is busted and youre not going to re wrap the entire thing are you?
Wht not do it the right direction ??
I mean, it looks nice, but... enjoy those reverse wrap ridges.
That will happen with Lizard Skins but not standard basic tape.
What are reverse wrap ridges?
@@ralphimself they’re the edges of the bar tape. Basically when you’re wrapping in this “reverse” direction, the bar tape is overlapping reverse to what it traditionally does. So the “ridges” or edges of the bar tape are on the opposite side than they usually are.
Starting from the bar end usually gives more durability but nice video you son of a cyclist
This annoying thing could be solved without the need of using bar tape. Wider anti slip handlebar tubes (sand coated alike) which could conceal (by a cover) the shifter metal clamp.
i dont see the advantage and in fact it will probably peel on the edges near the hoods as you use it (against the motion of grip). Old days 20+ years ago this is ok because the tape was plastic and the edges was very thin,
You messed up the rotation. Riders tend to twist their hand clockwise in the Drops (right Hand Side). the bar tape needs to go around in the same direction. If you do it like you did, the bar tape might come loose.
Yeah ive heard of that before. Something I need to look into, thanks for reminder! However. Ive done my tape this way for 4 years and yet to see anyyhing move or come loose. But, definitely worth looking into. Cheers!
which riders?? riders with broken wrists?
What you say is a myth.
If my hands roll any direction at all, it is towards the inside. You don't ride like a gorilla if you are in the drops.
@@cyclingmilan towards the inside is what i meant "..clockwise in the Drops on the right Hand side...". You dont ride Like a Gorilla in the Drops, but the Drops are the Position to sprint in an a Lot of Riders apply more force to the bars while sprinting
@@benbednarz8710 in a sprint you will be pulling, again rolling inwards if anything.
@@cyclingmilan you are right and thats what im wanting to say, If that pull runs against the direction of the handelbar tape, it might come loose or move.
arahe kuwalik
Sir ano pong pangalan yung PARANg tape ng sti
Purposely skipped the most difficult key point to hide disability
Ahh yes.. the terrible chipmunks music.
The problem with reverse wrapping your bars is although it looks pretty, it's not as functional. Think about it logically. There's a reason why houses have shingles set the way they do. Anytime you're putting fashion over function, you're doing it wrong.